Unique Designs Propel African Woodwork To Success
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday June 18, 2018 18:00
Their clientele is made up of individuals, guesthouses, and hotels with i-Towers being the latest as well as Vantage Properties.
According to Ncube, it all started about two years back after buying a bed that could not fit in his room. He then decided to redesign it to create some space and this was followed by a television stand that he created using pallets.
“I wasn’t even aware that what I did that time would turn me into an entrepreneur, and it’s now when I understand when people say God’s timing is always perfect. It took just a post of my creations on Facebook and I was amazed by the feedback with requests,” he said. Requests continued to flood in with different creations, which Ncube said expanded his business. The demand forced him to have full time employees. The company currently has six full time employees and usually absorbs some on temporary basis depending on the demand.
Ncube said they tailor make their furniture according to client’s demands hence why prices vary. African Woodwork is currently running a promotion whereby every time a client buys a P1, 400 television stand from them, they get P200 shopping voucher from Mr Price Home.
“We appreciate the support we have been receiving; people have been supportive by buying from us, while some engaged us to redesign what they already have. When placing an order, a client is required to have a 50% down payment fee and finish the product within three to five working days,” he said.
He further shared his dreams of penetrating the regional market noting that they already have clientele in South Africa mostly in Mafikeng, Rustenburg and Pretoria. He also noted that they also want to venture into interior designing.
“We do have plans of empowering other locals and want to outsource some of the services like marketing and transporting of the goods,” he said.
However like many start-ups, the company has encountered some teething problems with the raw material, as it is insufficient locally causing delays in orders once in a while. Currently, African Woodwork gets raw materials from Builders Warehouse, Nata Timber and gets pallets from locals.